This list of the top 20 tips from entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs is seriously cool. Eighteen highly successful entrepreneurs provide their best advice for young, start-up entrepreneurs. This is soured from Forbes.com and is written by Eric T. Wagner. Check out number 2: “Focus focus focus” – well I never! Lack of focus is why the majority of start-up businesses fail. It’s not surprising though, given that the reptilian brain in us feeds of distractions, thrives off drama and is the source source of procrastination. Take some time out to take in these tips – they’re brilliant!

Top 20 Tips From Entrepreneurs For Entrepreneurs

1.) The Power of Connections

“Network! Make connections and keep a record on each person you meet. Ask for their advice and help. Keep in touch with them along the way and build your network before you need it! Quality relationships are the keys to the kingdom.” – Clare Dreyer

2.) Focus, Focus and Focus

“Focus on ONE NICHE! And become the expert guru in that niche with your brand. Don’t get greedy! It’s the reason most quit by spreading themselves too thin.” – George Shepherd

3.) You Will Fail at Times

“Look forward to failure. This is how you learn to succeed. There is plenty of time to get it right — so go ahead and just do it — and get it wrong.” –Graham Phoenix

4.) Let Your Passion Drive You

“Find what you’re truly passionate about and go for it head on. Your passion driving you on your entrepreneurial journey. And understand there is NO Such THING AS BALANCE when you’re building your empire. There are things entrepreneurs do that others will not.” – Katerina Gasset

What was your favourite tip from these top 20 tips from entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs? Along with no. 2 I’d have to say “let Your Passion Drive You” – could not be put into better words. Most people go through life drifting from job to job, with incremental salary increases, never taking risks and life an unfulfilled working life. (Sorry to be blunt.) At least as an entrepreneur, everything you put into your business, is what you get out of it, so if the energy you put into it is driven by sincere passion for it, there’s only one way for your business to go. Up. (Unless you’re trying to sell ice to Eskimos)

If you’re a fan on my fan page, you’ll have seen that I held a webinar last night geared towards focus for the entrepreneur. The reason I did that, is that I strongly believe that the main reason entrepreneurs fail is down to a lack of focus. In fact, it’s not just my belief, it’s what I’ve discovered, having read countless stories of why new businesses fail. A “failure” (I hate that word – temporary setback is more appropriate – successful entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and try a different approach) can be broken down to a more complex reasoning, as is explained in this excerpt from Psychology Today, written by Kimberley Key. I think she hits the nail on the head, but actually goes deeper into explaining why we struggle to focus, and it’s down to our reptilian brain.

The Main Reason Entrepreneurs Fail

I believe this flaw translates into business start-ups and reveals why most business fail (8 out of 10) within the first year (64% by the fifth year).

This flaw, while seemingly simple, is the disease responsible for ruining your best intentions. It’s why you can’t focus—and, unfortunately, it’s worsened with the advent of video games, microwave ovens, and microblogging sites like Twitter.

It’s not ADD or ADHD, but it is this distracter gene’s ancestor and it resides in ALL of us.

It’s our primal reptilian brain that causes us to be so immediate focused that it takes us right off track from our original agenda. It’s the source of procrastination. It’s the source of emotional hijacking. It’s why the best-laid plans go awry.

The primal reptilian brain feeds off of distraction, drama, and holds tight to emotional traumatic triggers that transform wisdom and grace into momentary flights of rage and despair.

The good news is that the primal reptilian brain can be your best ally. You just need to learn how to harness your inner power and make your primal brain work for you rather than against you.

What a fantastic article. It sums is up really. So if the main reason entrepreneurs fail is down to the fact that our reptilian brain takes over, what can we do about it? We’re all different, as Kimberley Key points out, so solutions will be different for all of us. It’s a matter of addressing your particular learning style so I’m intrigued as to what she’ll say in her next post. Watch this space!

When you start off as an entrepreneur or even further down the line, it’s very easy to lose focus with the not so interesting tasks such as the day to day admin, operational issues etc – if you’re the creative type that is, which you probably are if you’re an entrepreneur. If you have a short attention span, that’s made even harder. Here are 5 ways to focus for entrepreneurs written by Michael Hess for cbsnews.com. I’ve excerpted the last twe points as they’re more original, not that the first 3 points aren’t useful, as they really are. Actually, he talks about going on a “metreat” in no. 3 which I thought was an enlightening concept. In fact, I might just go on one myself.

5 Ways To Focus For Entrepreneurs

4. Shut up and stare: This is a tough one for me, because while I know that it’s better to listen more than you talk, I still talk a lot. It’s my noisy brain letting some of the noise out (that’s my story and I’m sticking with it). But I am making a concerted effort to do better, and I’ve found it helps to stare at people; not in a creepy way, but in an undistracted way. I notice that when my attention starts to wander, my eyes often follow. We all know the importance of eye contact, and aside from just being a good people skill, looking intently at people when they speak actually helps your brain — and your mouth — quiet down.

5. Focus on the outcome: One of the problems with the attention-challenged is that we get bored by process. We dwell on the dread and tedium of staring at reports or sitting in meetings; we crave action and results. So instead of thinking “I don’t want to deal with this inventory report,” I remind myself that we’ll have a great holiday season if we have the right stock of our key products. Sounds simplistic, but focusing on the payoff actually does help me to give that boring report the attention it needs.There’s a prize at the end of the spreadsheet.

Which is your favourite out of these 5 ways to focus for entrepreneurs? I thought point no.4 was great. However, if you’re trying so hard to make eye contact (and seem interested in what someone is saying) the very fact that you’re trying so hard to make eye contact and concentrate, makes it virtually impossible to listen and comprehend what they’re saying. I’m a master at this. Focusing on the outcome is superb advice and is in tune with goal setting. If you can focus on the goal, or achievement, or better still the emotional feeling you’ll experience on reaching that goal, then it’s a lot easier to get things done.

As I have recently found out, when you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, and working from home on the internet, it is often difficult to focus at the best of times. These focusing tips for entrepreneurs come from an article by Gabrielle Bernstein who writes for the Huffington Post and she goes beyond the usual advice and enters into the world akin to the Law Of Attraction. If you’re willing to open your mind to the possibility that the universe will work with you when you follow your passion, then I’d highly recommend reading this post. Step outside your comfort zone and take a read. I dare you.

Focusing Tips For Entrepreneurs

The Principles for Passion

One: Be Moved by Your Mission
I was recently asked how I created a successful career at such a young age. I responded, “I don’t remember. It’s as if I’ve been awake in a dream.” This involuntary response is a sure sign that I stepped away from the how and centered into allow. When we’re inspired by our work, an invisible creative force takes over. Call it God, call it the universe, call it spirit, call it whatever you wish. This energy force leads us to learning opportunities, supportive people, and miraculous guidance that navigates our career path.

When we invite this presence into our careers, we allow inspiration to lead the way. Tap into what inspires you most. Then allow that inspiration to take over your consciousness and show you where to go what to do and how to serve. This spiritual intervention happens to us all in unique ways. Some people quit their job out of the blue because an inner voice leads them in a new direction. Others intuitively know they have to create a side business that eventually becomes a career. The question is not, “How do I get there?” Rather, ask, “What am I passionate about?” Focus on that passion and trust the universe will lead the way.

Two: Focus on the WE, Not the ME
I built my business as a spiritual teacher, author and speaker because of my deep desire to create community and engage the masses in a transformational conversation. My focus on how I can serve others is what has helped my business most. I believe that my readers, lecture audiences and even my Twitter followers can feel my deep desire to serve the larger WE rather than serve my ego’s ME ME ME. I have learned that the best way for me to lead is to guide others to lead one another. Whatever your mission may be, be sure to focus on empowering the WE.

Three: Take Inspired Action
Often people begin their careers inspired by a mission only to get bogged down by the daily tasks that need to get done and the practical steps to move things forward. When the to-do lists and the bottom line overwhelm us, we can lose the spark that ignited our passion in the first place. The goal here is to consciously take inspired action daily. Make sure each mundane task is backed by the same fierce passion that ignited your work in the first place. When you infuse your passion into the present moment, you invite the invisible force of energy to work through you — and, in effect, you can expand time. Things get done, inspiration moves through you, deadlines get met and your work has an impact. Make inspiration your business partner.

These focusing tips for entrepreneurs may seem a little ‘out there’ to some, but I’m a big believer in such advice. I watched The Secret a year or so ago which is all about The Law Of Attraction. If you haven’t seen it, then I’d highly recommend a watch. It’s all about focusing on what you want, rather than on what you don’t have, or do not want. If you focus on debt, you’ll attract debt, if you focus on wealth, you’ll attract wealth. If you focus on the fact that you haven’t found love, chances are, you won’t find love. If you focus on an image of your ideal partner, then the universe will work with you to attract that person (now that’s pretty out there isn’t it). I’ve also read a book called Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill that was first published in 1937. Over a 20 year period he examined the minds of over 500 of the wealthiest, influential and powerful people of America at that time. Not only were they wealthy in terms of money, but had found love, peace, and happiness as a whole.

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